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India to Launch Tourism Ad Drive

DUBAI - In a bid to attract more tourists from the UAE to India, ëIncredible Indiaí-branded buses will soon hit the streets of Dubai.

Two public buses of the Roads and Transport Authority will display the advertisement and ply the streets for six weeks on two routes of Dubai.

One bus would be from Al Satwa bus station to Al Qusais and the second from Al Qouz Industrial Area to Al Ghubaiba bus station.

Venu Rajamony, Consul General of India in Dubai, launched the first phase of this outdoor advertising campaign on Saturday. M. Sadana, regional director (East Asia, West Asia and Africa) of Incredible India, attended.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Sadana said on April 1, the Incredible India office would launch the ‘Visit India’ initiative where all leading Indian airlines, hotels and travel and tourism agencies would launch offers to attract more tourists to the South Asian nation. “The first phase of the initiative is only a trial run.

Eventually, we would be advertising Incredible India more extensively in all emirates of the UAE.” said Sadana.

According to C. Gangadhar, assistant director (West Asia) of Incredible India, 41,999 visas were issued from the UAE to India in 2005, 50,076 in 2006 and 60,814 in 2007.

“Though there are no confirmed figures for 2008, there was a 20 per cent increase in the number of visas issued which means that tourism figures have risen,” said Gangadhar.

Sadana said the initiative was earlier launched in Seoul, Taipei and Japan where it was immensely popular. “India is a closer destination to the UAE, and travelling to India is cost effective as compared to other vacation destinations,” said Sadana.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

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